This blog post examines the impact of pesticide dependence on sustainable food production and explores alternatives. It proposes a direction for future agriculture that considers both the environment and health.
Food is the most vital resource for human survival. To sustain life and obtain the energy source necessary for labor, humans must consume food. The importance of food extends beyond mere energy supply; it profoundly impacts the stability and prosperity of human society. Historically, societies with abundant food resources achieved population growth and economic development, while food shortages led to wars, famines, and social turmoil. This remains true today. Nations worldwide prioritize food security as a vital component of national strategy, implementing diverse policies and technologies for sustainable agricultural development.
Humans have attempted various methods to ensure a continuous and sufficient food supply, one of which is the use of pesticides. Following World War II, the global population surged dramatically. From 2.5 billion in 1950, it reached 5 billion in 1987 and approximately 7 billion in 2013. Based on this growth trend, the world population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2030. This rapid population growth and urbanization are intensifying the pressure to increase agricultural productivity.
In the United States, the number of people supported by each farmer has steadily increased: from 4 in the 1820s, to 10 in the 1940s, and to 47 by 1978. This is due to advances in agricultural technology, mechanization, and the introduction of chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers. The productivity gains of modern agriculture rely heavily on these technological innovations. However, despite such achievements, concerns have been raised that the use of pesticides is not sustainable in the long term.
The food shortage problem is not merely one of production volume but also of distribution and accessibility. While some regions have surplus food, others suffer from widespread hunger. This is partly due to the uneven distribution of food and the economic and political instability in regions producing food. According to some agricultural economists, approximately one billion people could face starvation due to food shortages in the future, with the impact expected to be particularly severe in poor countries. This situation cannot be resolved simply by increasing food production; it requires the establishment of sustainable agriculture and a fair food distribution system.
Therefore, the need for increased food production is growing ever more urgent, and simultaneously, pesticide usage is also rising. But is it acceptable to indiscriminately use pesticides just to balance short-term food demand and supply? Pesticides are generally defined as agents used to control organisms that damage crops or agricultural products, and they are classified into categories such as insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, growth regulators, attractants, and repellents. For farmers, the use of such pesticides is a highly convenient tool in terms of enhancing productivity. However, pesticide use has a profoundly detrimental impact on the ecosystems we inhabit, potentially leaving serious aftereffects on human society as well.
First, pesticides negatively impact water quality. Pesticides are designed to act on target organisms, achieving their purpose of controlling pests or weeds, and should then decompose into harmless substances. However, current technology cannot ensure all applied pesticides decompose immediately, and some inevitably flow into water bodies like rivers, lakes, and oceans. The Ministry of Environment annually measures BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) as part of water quality testing in the same agricultural watershed. BOD measures the amount of organic matter that bacteria can consume within a set time period. When water becomes polluted and contains more organic matter, the amount of oxygen required for bacteria to decompose that organic matter also increases. Therefore, the more pesticides enter the water, the higher the BOD becomes. According to survey results released by the Ministry of Environment, BOD in the agricultural watershed of the Namhan River increased from 1.1 ppm to 1.5 ppm before and after pesticide use.
Furthermore, some of the sprayed pesticides evaporate into the air and then enter rivers with rainwater. In some cases, they even seep deep into the ground, contaminating groundwater. In Japan, for example, the Environment Agency investigated groundwater pollution levels at 1,300 locations across 15 cities nationwide in 1982. The results revealed that a significant amount of groundwater was contaminated by pesticides. Subsequently, as groundwater contamination around agricultural areas was successively uncovered, it came as a major shock to residents who had relied on well water for drinking.
The contamination of vital resources like groundwater by pesticides has severe impacts on the environment and ecosystems. Groundwater pollution, in particular, is a problem that cannot be resolved quickly; it can take decades for polluted groundwater to become clean again. This environmental damage disrupts local ecosystems and poses a serious threat to human health and livelihoods.
Furthermore, pesticides adversely affect ecosystems. As mentioned earlier, some pesticides flow into rivers, surrounding aquatic organisms in the form of various inorganic or organic toxic substances. Because natural ecosystems are interconnected through complex food chains, pesticides can destroy entire ecosystems. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 75% of the world’s water is polluted due to large-scale corporate farming, leading to the extinction of 75% of marine animals. The most easily observable example is the death of aquatic animals like fish in farming regions due to contaminated water sources, with organisms feeding on them also suffering direct or indirect harm and dying. Furthermore, water pollution significantly reduces insect reproduction, leading to a decline in bird populations and, in severe cases, the emergence of extinct species. For instance, DDT, which even won the Nobel Prize in 1948, was highly acclaimed for its effectiveness as an insecticide. However, it later became evident that DDT, being difficult to break down in nature or living organisms, accumulates through the food chain from birds to large mammals, ultimately destroying ecosystems.
The ecological damage caused by pesticides extends far beyond animal extinction. It can also have devastating effects on humans. The ecological changes induced by pesticides reduce biodiversity, ultimately impacting human access to food and resources. For example, insect decline impacts crop pollination, potentially leading to reduced crop yields. These ecological shifts can trigger unpredictable chain reactions, with damage extending far beyond the agricultural sector.
Finally, pesticides harm human health. Manufactured from chemicals, pesticides pose significant risks to farmers and consumers throughout their lifecycle—from production and transport to application. Workers at pesticide manufacturing plants and farmers can develop various illnesses or even die from long-term exposure to large quantities of pesticides. The World Health Organization and the UN Environment Programme report that in the agricultural sector of developing countries, 3 million workers experience severe pesticide poisoning annually, with approximately 18,000 of them dying. Furthermore, a study published in 2000 revealed that up to 25 million workers in developing countries annually exhibit symptoms of moderate pesticide poisoning and suffer from various diseases such as leukemia, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma. Meanwhile, the health of people consuming food treated with pesticides to control pests and diseases is also threatened. Research published by a U.S. institute in 1993 established that infants and children are primarily exposed to pesticides through food.
Health problems caused by pesticides extend beyond individual illness, leading to increased societal costs. Rising medical expenses and labor losses due to pesticide poisoning place a significant burden on the national economy. Particularly in developing countries, when the health of agricultural workers is threatened, it can not only reduce productivity but also destabilize the economic stability of entire communities.
Ultimately, excessive pesticide use yields more harm than benefit in the long term. Recognizing these risks, we must seek ways to minimize pesticide usage. Let’s explore methods to enhance agricultural productivity while minimizing dependence on pesticides.
First, governments should support farms to expand eco-friendly agriculture. Organic farming, or eco-friendly agriculture, is an environmentally conscious farming method that avoids all chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, instead utilizing natural resources like organic matter, natural minerals, and microorganisms. For instance, damage can be prevented by timing planting to coincide with periods when pests and diseases are less problematic, employing natural enemies of crop-damaging pests, or using traditional methods to eliminate pests. In fact, there is a case in the United States where farmers successfully controlled insects by spraying hot water at a cost nearly identical to that of spraying pesticides.
Additionally, methods exist to disrupt pest reproduction. For example, sterilizing male insects of a specific pest species and releasing them into the environment prevents them from producing offspring, even though they mate with females. This technique was first applied to parasitic flies in 1958 and has since been used against pests like the Mediterranean fruit fly, tsetse flies, and gypsy moths. Such methods can effectively control pests without high costs and offer an alternative to reduce pesticide use.
Alongside this, crop breeding must be intensified and implemented more widely. Breeding improvements are essential to maintain crop quality without pesticides. Breeding enhances crop productivity and resistance to diseases and pests. Over the past two decades, this approach has significantly increased yields per unit area for various crops worldwide and provides quality that meets consumer preferences.
Finally, the development of crop cultivation techniques utilizing glass greenhouses is necessary. Glass greenhouse agriculture allows for the artificial control of temperature and humidity, optimizing crop growth. It also provides methods to protect crops from pests and diseases while reducing pesticide use. For example, in glass greenhouses, temperature control or the use of ultraviolet light can prevent disease when crops become infected. These technologies can serve as effective alternatives that reduce pesticide use while increasing crop productivity.
Of course, counterarguments may exist. As mentioned earlier, crop variety improvement is the best method to maintain quality without pesticides. However, in South Korea today, due to technological limitations, pesticides remain essential for controlling pests, diseases, and weeds in modern agriculture. According to WHO statistics, pests destroy approximately 15% of the total crop yield annually. Therefore, without pesticides, not only would food productivity drastically decrease, but agricultural profitability would also decline.
Thus, pesticides significantly contribute not only to food production but also to saving labor and time, enabling convenient farming. Some argue that pesticides should be used more extensively because they effectively eliminate weeds and reduce production costs, allowing for the supply of high-quality grains, fruits, and vegetables at affordable prices.
However, this is merely a short-sighted argument. While pesticide use may yield short-term benefits, in the long run, as mentioned earlier, it causes significant harm to the environment and ecosystems. While pesticides are drugs designed to prevent pest and disease damage, they can be toxic to humans and animals. Indeed, Navdanya’s 2012 report, ‘The Poison in Our Food,’ revealed a link between pesticides used in agriculture and the prevalence of diseases like cancer. Therefore, for the sake of health, pesticide use should be curtailed, and efforts should be made to lead the way in spreading eco-friendly agriculture.
